Maharashtra Revenue Department Clarifies Continued Availability of Rs 100 and Rs 200 Stamp Papers
Pune, 8th October 2024: State revenue officials have assured citizens that Rs 100 and Rs 200 denomination stamp papers will remain accessible, addressing confusion after a recent cabinet decision to revise stamp duty for certain documents.
Deputy Secretary for Stamps and Registration, S.S. Bajaj, explained that the revision affects only 11 out of the 64 document types that previously required stamp duties of Rs 100 or Rs 200. “The new Rs 500 stamp duty applies to specific documents like letters of licence, appraisals or valuations, divorce papers, and lease surrender documents,” Bajaj clarified.
He further noted that the current rates had been in place since 2004, necessitating the update. “However, Rs 100 and Rs 200 stamp papers will still be available for general use, such as notary services or affidavit submissions,” he added, stressing that these stamp papers remain valid for common private use.
The change follows requests from several organizations urging the government to maintain Rs 100 and Rs 200 stamp papers, fearing their discontinuation after the revision.
A revenue department official elaborated on the reasoning behind the amendments, stating that the revisions are meant to streamline documentation and improve precision. “With the new adjustments, the state aims to generate an additional Rs 1,000 crore annually,” the official explained.
Sachin Shingavi, President of the Association of Real Estate Agents Pune, expressed concerns over the increase, noting that many of the affected documents are frequently used by the general public. “The government should reconsider this decision, as raising the stamp duty to Rs 500 for commonly used documents places an undue burden on the public,” Shingavi said, referencing a letter his organization submitted to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar urging the state to avoid using stamp duty hikes on everyday documents as a revenue-raising tool.
